Socio-Economics & History Commentary

‘Strong Blow’ Looming? Israel Masses Tanks & APCs on Gaza Border

Israeli soldiers speak next to tanks as military armoured vehicles gather in an open area near Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

‘Strong Blow’ Looming? Israel Masses Tanks & APCs on Gaza Borderby https://www.rt.com/Israel has boosted its military presence along the border with Gaza amid top politicians’ calls for a full-scale military campaign like the conflict of 2014, to put an end to the violence and rocket attacks that it links to Hamas.–The IDF has stationed around 60 tanks and armored personnel carriers at a deployment area near the Palestinian border, according to Reuters, in what may be the largest military maneuver from Israel since 2014’s Operation Protective Edge.–In the latest exchange this week, a rocket from Gaza hit the southern Israeli city of Be’er Sheva, damaging a house, while another fell into the sea. In a series of retaliatory airstrikes Tuesday night, the IDF killed one Palestinian and injured several more, targeting eight “terrorist locations.”–Attempting to justify its rapid military escalation, Israeli officials claimed the rocket that landed in the sea came “dangerously close” to Tel Aviv. Still, Hamas took no responsibility for the rocket strike and promised an investigation.–In addition to the military response, Israel closed two border checkpoints and instituted a three-mile limit for Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian officials have already described Gaza as being at a “breaking point,” citing “the Israeli blockade that strangled life and business in Gaza.”–Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu promised “very strong action” in the event of future rocket attacks, convening his security cabinet as soon as the projectiles hit the ground. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman prioritized showing strength over keeping the peace, reiterating his insistence on a “strong blow” against Hamas “even at a price of moving to a wide-scale confrontation.”–read more.

The Zionist plan is to forcefully expel all Palestinians from West Bank and Gaza into the Sinai desert. Click on image for article.

The Zionist plan is to forcefully expel all Palestinians from West Bank and Gaza into the Sinai desert. Click on image for article.

The Zionist plan is to forcefully expel all Palestinians from West Bank and Gaza into the Sinai desert. Click on image for article.